Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-02-24
when We are running behind now. :"
Ana ne sighed harder than ever.

CautIousit opcuiHS hCi uoO1 0N"iN ">A"'S
the dark hall to an opposite door and
raped softly.
"Come in." called deep, musical
voice, and Bee obeyed the summons
and en.ered large. beautifully-ap-
pointed room, where two young women
were slowly and sleepily preparing to
retire, after an evening spent at a
brilliant reception. The taller OF the
two greeted Bee with smile, rs she
stood wrapped in wine-colored dress
ing-gown, her dark brown hair hang
ing about her shoulders, and the brush
in her uplifted hand, while her sister
sat lazily toasing her daintily-slip-
pered feet at the open fire, looking be-
w;tciling even at that time of night in
her becoming pink robe.
'Alice, are you and May too tired to
talk?" said Bee, returning her Oldest
sisters smile.
''Of course not. Are girls ever too
tired to TALK" and Alice laughed,
unsteady.
Tell away, Bee, that's DEAR"
drawled May. Il know by your looks
that you've something interesting to
relate"
whats up?' cried new voice, and
a tall, lily-faced girl came from an in
ner room, gold pen held lightly in
her right hand and her pale blue tea
gown trailing gracefully after her.
you still awaken" said Alice, in
surprise.
The newcomer rubbed her forehead
with her disengaged hand, and replied,
sleepily:
"Yes, got interested in my writing
and couldn't stop. Did you have Il
good time at the fandango?" and she
curled herself up on the rug with a lit
tie SILVER, and rested her head against
Mays knee.
"Just as usual" replied May. with a
yawn. I'm getting dreadfully tired
of this life, though"
$50 am l." cried Alice. II feel as if
I didn't amount to any thing, and am
so sick of this everlasting dress, dress.
dress, and parties, lunches. dinners,
operas. etc, that am ready to go to
the ends of the world to get away from
it."
If you want different kind of life,
l am ready to offer you one," said Bee,
soberly, from her perch on the foot of
the bed.
..You?" and all three turned to look
in amazement at their younges. sister,
and the pet and baby of the family.
"You don't need to be so terribly
surprised" she replied, with a little
pout. Il can have thoughts and plans
as well rs the rest Of you. if l can't
sing divinely,' paint exquisitely,' or
write 'heart-melting stories.''
''Of course you cam" cried Alice.
warmly. land can see that YOU are
brimful of thoughts and plans this very
minute. So proceed to unburden your
seb lest they prove too much for you"
Your audience is in waiting" said
May. clasping her slender hands above
her dark head. while Ida, the sister in
blue, only smiled up into Bees flushed
face.
"Well, if Alice will put down her
hair-brush, and settle herself in an au-
dience manner" said Bee, laughingly,
"Tll proceed with my lecture, unfold
my plans and air my thoughts.
Alice obediently laid aside her ivory
handled brush and Joined the group on
the rug. And Bee began in her sweet,
earnest voice, white her wistful brown
eyes watched the faces of her beautiful
sisters. as they looked up at her on her
lofty seat above them.
"Now. girls, papa is in awful trouble.
and"-
Papa in trouble?" calculated Alice
and Ida, in one breath, while May
added. slowly: "In trouble?"
"Yes, in trouble, don't interrupt
and Bee frowned as hard as she could.
'Tll tell You all about it. You know
these horrid strikes have made business
fearfully dull and probably will make
it so for some time to come -
"Yes. yes!" said Alice, hurriedlv.
"Well, that affects papa's business,
as we'll as every body else; and. of
course. he has to be very careful and
not pay out too much money. cause So
little moneys coming in. Do you
see?'
''Of course! go on" said Alice, as
spokesman for the audience.
Papa thinks they could have got
through all right, only. what 90 you
think?''
What? do hurryr said Ida. raising
her head from Mays knee to get bet
ter view of the speaker.
''Why. the under book-keeper and
three of the best clerks struck to-day,
and papa can't possibly do without
them. And he can't afford to pay them
higher wages. but he's just got to.
cause they understand the business.
specially the clerks, and they take
charge of all those lovely new-style
\